Garissa butchers receive equipment to boost business

Butchers in Garissa town received equipment that will help improve meat handling and minimise contamination.

Livestock chief officer Isnino Rage handed over 10 meat carriers, 14 flaying knives, four sharpening tools, 11 aprons, 20 meat hooks and five pairs of gumboots to Mohamed Hussein, the chairman of Garissa Butchers Sacco on Monday.

Rage was accompanied by director of Livestock Haret Hambe and programme officer Issack Dahir of the Livestock Marketing Systems.

The equipment was donated to the 70-member Sacco by the Livestock Marketing Systems.

The donation is in support of the Garissa government's efforts to upgrade the meat value chain and promote proper hygiene, in its Sh216 million monthly industry.

Rage said the Garissa government is engaging partners to establish cottage industry for hides, skins and bones from local supply to create more value to local animal sellers.

She also said emphasis was being put in establishment of disease free zones, cross border collaboration, livestock infrastructural expansion and mechanisation of fodder production and livestock feed processing.

Hambe said efforts by the county and its partners had seen a marked improvement in meat handling.

He said there has been hygiene improvements at the slaughter house, adoption of meat carriers and use of protective clothing by meat workers.

Dahir said they will continue partnering with the county to empower more local cooperatives and help transform the lives of the residents.

Also present was Bashir Malele from the Directorate of Cooperative and members of the Garissa Butchers Sacco.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)